Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award

Tom Hanson was a swashbuckling photojournalist whose images from the Oka conflict to the cut-and-thrust of the House of Commons told vivid stories. He was an award-winning photographer for The Canadian Press who travelled around the world and across the country, shooting some of the most iconic news and sports images of the last 15 years.

When Hanson died suddenly at age 41 in 2009, his family, friends, colleagues at The Canadian Press and the country’s photojournalism community wanted to find an appropriate way to honour his memory, talent and spirit. The result was the creation of the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award.

The Hanson Award is administered by the Canadian Journalism Foundation and offers a six-week paid internship at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto for a photojournalist in the early stages of his or her career. The annual internship is designed to give a photographer trying to break into the business the chance to perform on the national stage.

Eligibility:

The Hanson Award is open to any Canadian photojournalist who has been in the business less than five years – from students to freelancers to photographers working at regional publications.

The award:

The six-week internship will take place sometime between April and September, the exact time of the placement to be worked out between the successful applicant and The Canadian Press. The successful applicant must be willing to work at the head office of The Canadian Press in Toronto during the internship. The Hanson Award does not offer living or travel allowances, but a weekly salary of approximately $875 will be paid.